Combined cigarette holder and igniter.



T. EGAN.

COMBINED CIGARETTE HOLDER AND IGNITER.

APPLIOATION IILED JAN. 19, 1912.

1,054,187. Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

YigA

Inventor W' nesses Attorneys.

THOMAS EGAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

' COMBINED CIGARETTE HOLDER AND IGNITER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

Appllcationflled January 19, 1912. Serial No. 672,215.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS Esau, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the borou h of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Combined Cigarette Holder and Igniter, of which the following is a specification. v

The object I have in view is the production of a device which will combine in one structure a container for cigarettes, cigars, etc., and a device for igniting the same, the two being closed by a device which Wlll automatically expose the cigarettes when the igniter is manipulated.

A further object is to produce a device which may be made in imitation of a firearm, so that it may be used for purposes of defense, by causing fear to the assailant.

A further object is to produce adevice which will be of simple construction. not likely to get out of order, and certain in its operation.

These and further objects will more fully appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings, considered to gether or separately.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention, the sliding member being contracted when the cigarettes and igniter are exposed. Fig. 2 is a view of the same in longitudinal section, but with the sliding member in the osition it assumes when the cigarettes are inclosed. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3, 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow; and Fig. 4 is a detailed section of the sparking wheel and pinion.

In all of the views, l1ke parts are designated by the same reference characters.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a frame 1. By the arrangement of the sliding member and the cigarette holder, as will be described, together with the trigger and trigger guard, I am enabled 'to produce a device of the outward configuration of an automatic pistol. The size of the commercial cigarette makes it possible to employ a frame in which the part analogous to the handle or stock of the pistol will be of the proper size. My invention, however is not limited to the making of the device in the configuration of a pistol, as by modifying the shape, without altering the principle of operation, it configuration may be made entirely different.

The frame 1 includes the cigarette holder 2. This holder is in the form of a box, which is preferably made in the-shape of the rhomboid illustrated. This cigarette holder is preferably of the width of a single cigarette, or it may be arranged to hold cigarettes arranged in a plurality of layers.

The upper ends of the cigarettes referably tension is in the shape of a barrel of an auto-- matic pistol.

In conjunction with the frame described is the sliding member 5. This sliding member is adapted to fit sufiiciently loosely within the front extension, so that it may slide therein when retracted to the position shown in Fig. 2. The sliding member extends over the cigarette holder, and forms a cover therefor. The sliding member is actuated by means of a spiral spring 6. One end of the spring is secured to the front of the sliding member, and the other end is secured to the inside of the front of the front extension 4. When the sliding member is in the retracted position shown in Fig. 2, it is held in such position by means of .the trigger 7. This trigger engages with the front 8 of the sliding member. A suitable spring engages with the trigger, and holds it in engagement with the front 8. The sliding member is adapted, when released by the trigger and moved into the front extension, to actuate devices which will ignite the wick 3. These devices are as follows: A rack 9 is secured to the sliding member and extends throughout the greater part of its length. This rack engages with a pinion 10. This pinion is carried upon a shaft 11, which is mounted within a frame 12, best shown in Fig. 4. On the same shaft 12 is a sparking wheel 13. This sparking wheel is preferably made of steel, and is also preferably formed with a knurled or milled periphery, as is illustrated. The sides of the sparking wheel and the pinion are provided with ratchet teeth 14 (see Fi 3). A spring 15 is coiled around the sha t 12 (see Fig. 4 This springs bears against one limb of t e frame 12, and lies within a recess formed on the side of the pinion 10. It is apparent that the engagement of the rack 9 with the pinion 10 will rotate the latter when the sliding member is moved in or out of the front extension. It is also apparent that the ratchet teeth 14 will rotate the sparking wheel when the pinion is rotated in the direction of the arrow (in the clockwise direction), and the rat-chets will slip' and will not rotate the sparking 15 wheel when the pinion is rotated in the opposite direction. The compression of the spring 15 permits the ratchet teeth to slip. The spark is produced by means of a flint 16, or a small mass of sparking metal commonly used for the purpose of producing sparks in cigar or cigarette igniters. This flint or sparking metal is held into operative engagement with the face of the spark ing wheel by means of a spring 17 This spring and the flint or sparking metal lie within the opening 18, formed in the frame 1.

In Fig. 2 a diaphragm 19 is shown, which holds the rack 9, but this diaphragm is not 34; essential, and may be emitted;

The wick-holder 3 is provided with a filling plug 20, so that the burning fluid .may be introduced.

The sliding member 5 is provided with a 35 finger-piece 21. This finger-piece is useful when the sliding member is retracted. It also acts as a stop to limit the forward movement of the sliding member. It also has the appearance of the conventional rear sight of the automatic pistol.

The usual trigger-guard 22 is provided inclosing the trigger. In the front of the front extension 4 is a hole 23.

This hole is useful to permit the rapid escape of the air in front of the sliding member when the same is released by the trigger. It also acts in similitude of the nozzle of the barrel of the pistol.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that a volatile burning fluid is employed, this will be absorbed by the wick 3, and will evaporate in the chamber 24, which is normally inclosed by the sliding member 5. The sliding member 5, of course,

to be understood, is normally in the position shown in Fig. 2. When the device is carried in the pocket, the inflammable vapor given off from the burning fluid will fill the chamber 24 adjacent to the sparking wheel.

In order to produce a light, and at the same time to expose a cigarette so that one of them may be removed and be ignited, it is but necessary for the operator to press the trigger. This will release the sliding memher 5, and permit the spring 6 to rapidly gagement of the rack with the pinion and the ratchet teeth on the pinion with the ratchet teeth on the sparking wheel engage the periphery of the latter with the flint or sparking metal 16. A shower of sparks will be directed into the space 24, and will ignite the wick. The operator may then withdraw a cigarette 25 from the cigaretteholder and light it from the burning wick. He then may either extinguish the flame by blowing it out, or may retract the sliding member to the position shown in Fig. 2. When the chamber is closed, the flame will extinguish itself through lack of oxygen. While being retracted, the sliding member, through. the movement of the rack, will rotat/e the inion in the opposite direction. The spar 'ng wheel, however, will not be turned because the engagement of the flint required to compress the spring 15. Consequently, the ratchet teeth on the pinion sparking wheel, and the pinion will simply be displaced to one side on its shaft, and will rotate in the clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2, without rotating the sparking wheel. The wear on the periphery of the sparking wheel and the abrasion of the flint will therefore be reduced and will not occur during the retractive motion of the sliding member.

My device may be modified in many ways, particularly as to the shape of the parts and their proportions. It may be used for carrying cigars, stogies, and loose tobacco for a pipe, as Well as igarettes, as shown.

In the following claims I use the term cigarette holder as signifying a holder for igars and any other commodity which is smoked, as well as a cigarette. I also use I the term flint as signifying a sparking metal, or any other sparking material which has the property of giving ofi sparks when struck by a device such as a wheel.

My invention may be modified by dispensing with the actuating spring 6, and the trigger, the sliding member being manually slid so asto uncover the cigarettes and actuate the sparking member.

In the following claims I also use the term sliding member as designating a device which is movably mounted in a frame so that it will inclose or expose the cigarettes, as depends upon its position. This member is also operatively connected to the sparking device and does not necessarily slide, as in some embodiments of the inven- -tion it may be so arranged that it is not necessary to have it slide in order to expose the cigarettes and actuate the sparking devlces.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the prim with it will ofl'er more resistance than is will ride on the ratchet teeth carried by the draw it into the front extension. The enciple of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that the invent-ion can be carried out in other ways.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a receptacle for cigarettes, and a sliding cover plate for such receptacle, a wick and sparking device therefor, the said cover plate covering the same, and provided with means for actuating the sparking device and means for sliding the cover plate.

2. A device of the character described, 7

comprising a receptacle for cigarettes, arid a sliding spring retracted cover plate for such receptacle, with means for locking it in closed position, a wick and sparking de-.-

I such receptacle, with means for locking it in closed position, a wick and sparking de" vice therefor, the said cover plate covering the same and provided with the rack engaging with the actuating gear of the sparking device and means for releasing the cover plate.

This specification signed and witnessed this 18th day of Jan., 1912.

THOMAS EGAN. Witnesses:

JOHN L. LOTSCH, GEO. J. HANSON. 

